We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
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As with any other sport, basketball requires plenty of practice to become proficient. Sometimes that means training when other people need peace and quiet. To avoid disturbing those around you with incessant dribbling, you need a quiet-bounce basketball.
Silent basketballs are made of foam instead of leather, offering a nearly noiseless bounce. They’re not suitable for competitive play, but they’re terrific for players who want to work on developing dribbling and ball control skills without causing a ruckus.
We’ve researched quiet-bounce basketballs to find out which ones have the best design and materials for the price. Our top pick is the TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball, which features real basketball grooves and a comfortable grip.
Best of the Best
Material: Foam | Sizes: 3 (22”) and 7 (29.5”) | Weight: 8.8 oz
The TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball is a basketball perfect for youth players who want to develop their dribbling and ball control. It’s made of high-quality polyurethane foam, which gives it a high bounce, and features authentic basketball grooves on the surface for an improved grip. It comes in two sizes, with the smallest size (size 3) weighing just 8.8 ounces, making it easy for younger players to dribble. Available in either orange or black, it comes in uncompressed packaging, so you can start shooting some hoops right out of the box.
Best Bang for the Buck
Material: Foam | Size: 3, 22” | Weight: 9.1 oz.
The Nero Ninja Silent Basketball is a small foam ball that’s excellent for late-night training sessions or when parents need some quiet in the home. Its quiet-bounce technology significantly reduces bounce noise to no greater than 43 decibels (equivalent to the quiet hum of a refrigerator), and the exterior has a similar look and feel as a standard leather ball. The solid foam core gives it fantastic durability for long-lasting play and performance, and the grooves offer an authentic basketball experience.
Best for Everyday Use
Material: Polyurethane | Size: 7, 29.5” | Weight: 12.7 oz
Those who want a quiet-bounce basketball for everyday use will not be disappointed with the Naliks Silent Basketball. It offers 90% of the bounce you would experience with a regular basketball. Plus, it has traditional-style grooves that let players get a nice feel for the ball as they dribble and shoot. It’s a size 7, which is suitable for adults and experienced youth players, and it comes uncompressed, so it’s immediately ready for play.
Premium Quality
Material: Polyurethane | Size: 7, 29.5” | Weight: 11.2 oz.
Finding a better-quality quiet-bounce ball than the WAWAWEWA Official Silent Basketball is no easy task. It’s a premium-quality ball offering terrific bounce and real basketball grooves where the lines are located. It’s almost entirely soundless (it bounces at about 37 decibels), and its uncompressed packaging ensures no bumps or deformations. Plus, it’s a regulation-size ball with a brown color for a classic look.
Bargain Pick
Material: Cotton | Size: 7, 29.5” | Weight: 11.6 oz.
Quiet-bounce basketballs aren’t as durable as regular balls, so if you don’t want to spend much on one, we recommend the Nenrte Silent Basketball. It’s a cheap regulation-size ball that’s lightweight yet durable. (Because it ships compressed, plan to wait about two days for it to fully return to an uncompressed state.) Available in orange or blue, it features grooves for improved control and advanced technology for reducing noise and improving elasticity, helping you get the most out of your training sessions.
To find the best quiet-bounce basketballs for this guide, we only looked at those that offer a bounce that’s at least 80% of a regular ball. We also chose the most highly reviewed basketball based on customer reviews and analyzed factors such as material, weight, size and durability.
Quiet-bounce basketballs offer a similar feel to a regular basketball thanks to traditional-style grooves found on most models. Grooves provide a player with superior grip and ball control, and although the bounce isn’t exactly the same, the feel is good enough to help players improve their dribbling.
All quiet-bounce basketballs are made with foam. The core is made with a high-density foam, which ensures the ball can withstand hard impacts. The rest of the ball is often made of polyurethane, foam or sponge.
Our top picks: Design and materials
Our top picks: Size and weight
A. Silent basketballs are generally cheap as you can find many in the $10 to $30 price range. However, some premium-quality basketballs can cost as much as $50.
A. Yes, vacuum compression packaging can cause bumps and deformations that render a ball unusable. Compression packaging also means there’s a period after opening where you’ll have to wait for the ball to regain its proper shape, which can be as long as two days.
